Hi,
Thank you for being here.
My name is Susan Guttridge and today our practice is designed to cultivate self-acceptance,
Self-compassion and the release of judgement.
Start by taking a deep breath to separate the space,
Do a brief mindful check-in to explore how your body is feeling.
If you notice any tension anywhere you are holding or bracing,
Notice if you can soften those areas just as you breathe.
Inviting your body to relax,
Allowing any tension to melt away.
Anchoring into the support of the surface beneath you,
Supporting your presence in this one moment.
Now bring to your awareness your breath.
Notice the gentle rhythm of your inhale and exhale.
With each breath invite a sense of ease and spaciousness into your body.
On the next inhale,
Draw in compassion.
Let go on the exhale of any expectations or judgements you may have about yourself in this moment.
This is a space of self-acceptance where you can embrace all parts of yourself with kindness and understanding.
Inhaling in,
Exhaling out,
Releasing the need to be different or to meet some external standard.
You are enough just as you are.
With each breath invite kindness into your heart,
Cultivating and contributing to an inner atmosphere of love and gentleness.
You deserve this care and tenderness.
Now bring to mind any aspects of yourself that perhaps you're struggling to accept.
Perhaps a perceived flaw,
A past mistake,
A quality that you wish were different.
Whatever it may be,
Hold it gently in your awareness.
Take a moment to explore the story behind this aspect of yourself.
What conditioning or beliefs have contributed to your resistance to it?
Have these stories perhaps influenced your self-perception?
Without judgement,
Simply observe the patterns of thought or conditioning that have shaped your relationship with this part of self.
Place one hand over your heart,
Breathing deeply,
Inviting an open heart,
A curious mind,
And I invite you to shift your perspective to see this aspect of yourself through the lens of compassion.
Knowing that this part of you is not a reflection of your worth or value as a person,
It's simply a part of your human experience,
Offering you an opportunity to grow,
Learn,
Be.
Anchoring into this space of self-acceptance,
Inhaling in,
Exhaling out,
Releasing any attachment to needing this aspect to be different.
Allow it to be as it is,
Without the burden of judgement,
Without the strain of resistance.
Allow it to be as it is,
Just a part of your journey.
Contributing to the richness,
The depth of your being.
Feeling any lightness starting to stir up in your body when you let go of that urgent need to reject a part of self.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Carl Rogers who said,
The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am,
Then I can change.
For me,
This quote highlights the transformative power of self-acceptance.
Rogers believed that genuine self-acceptance is the foundation for personal growth and change.
The paradox he refers to is that only by fully accepting ourselves,
Including all parts of self,
Flaws and imperfections included,
Can we create the necessary conditions for change.
Inviting this acceptance of self into your heart.
In this place,
You can fully be yourself.
In this space,
You are inherently worthy simply by virtue of your existence.
Letting go of self-criticism,
Of judgement,
Recognizing your worth,
Because you do have worth,
And also because you are worthy of being worthy.
That is a powerful space for healing.
As we come to the end of this meditation,
Take a moment to express gratitude for yourself and your willingness to embark on this journey.
Think about how you would like to carry the essence of self-acceptance with you today.
Should you find yourself slipping back into self-judgement or resistance,
Remember to place a hand over your heart,
Take a deep breath in,
Release it out,
And anchor back into compassion for self.
Self-acceptance is certainly an ongoing journey,
And with each step,
With each day,
You deepen your capacity for love and acceptance of self.
Thank you for being here today,
Please keep shining your light in the world,
And be well.
